Improvement in sheep-racks



UNITED STATES PATENT JOHN D. VOODBURY, OF VILSON, NEW YQRK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SHEEP-RACKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,529, dated October 2, 1866.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN D. VOODBURY, of Wilson, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheep-Racks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improvements; Fig. 2, a central cross-section of the same.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in both' ligures.

My invention is designed to remedy some of the defectswhich have hitherto existed in sheepracks; and it consists in the peculiar means for adjusting the side boards of the hay-rack so as to form a roof, the manner of securing the side boards in place when formed into a rack, and in so hinging the' grain-troughs as to enable them to be readily emptied of their contents, `all as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, A A represent the side, and B B the end, portions of a rectangular frame. C C are the side boards of the hayrack, provided with cross-pieces D D, which are pivoted to the posts E E at each corner of the frame in a manner presently to be explained. F is a central portion or timber, running longitudinally of the rack, and forming the bottom to the hay-rack and one side to each of the grainftroughs G G. These troughs are constructed of a side board, 7L, and bottom board, t', with (preferably) a strip, j, for partially iilling up the angle formed at their junction. The boards h 'i are hinged at their corner to the frame A, as shown, or in any other suitable manner, so as to enable them to be turned outward, as clearly shown in red lines, Fig. 2, for emptying the troughs of the dust and other refuse material that may have collected therein before distributing the grain.

This operation of turning over the troughs may be conveniently accomplished by means of a handle, k, provided with a hook, which is inserted in the staple Z of the bottom board, t, as also represented by red lines..

The sides m m of the timber F are beveled, as shown, to conform with the chamfered edge of the board t", when the latter is in contact therewith, so as to make a tight joint and form a stop, as shown in black lines, and at the same time enable the board fi to be easily released when the trough is required to be turned over.

The trough maybe further supported, if desired, by the ends of the board t resting upon a cross-piece, N, at each end of the rack.

The side boards, C C, are pivoted by means of pins o o, projecting inwardl from the posts E through slots p in cross-pieces D D.

The ordinary methods of arranging the side boards to form a roof for protecting the rack from lling up with snow are attended with con siderable labor and inconvenience. These difficulties I avoid by making a series of holes, q q, through the boards C and cross-pieces D, at right angles with the slots and opening therein, and by providing pins or bolts r r, which fit in said holes and foperate in connection with said slots and side boards as follows:

The boards C are turned and brought together at the top, so as to form the required angle, the slots p allowing the pins o to slide therein, so that the latter will rest near the outer end of the former, when the pins r r are inserted in the proper holes q q above the pivots o, which prevents the boards spreading, and secures them firmly in place, as represented in red lines, Fig. 2.' When the boards C C are formed into a rack, the lower edges at their ends fit and rest in dovetailed notches s s, formed in the upper edge of cross-supports R R, of board or plank, which prevent their being' displaced and turned up by the heads of the sheep pressing inwardagain st the lower edges in feeding, a sufficient space, T, being left between them and the timber F for the latter purpose. This displacement in ordinary racks with revolving sides frequently occurs, by which the fodder is damaged by being trampled upon, the rack soon becoming lled with sheep, preventing the others, especially the weaker ones, from getting at the feed.

The side boards are released from the notches s s by being raised up out of the same, whichv the use of the slots p p allows to be done, which could not be accomplished were the side boards pivoted in the usual manner.

The slots p, as will be perceived, perform a double oflice-rst, in combination with the bolts r, forming a simple and easy means for converting the boards C of the rack into a roof, as before described; and, secondly7 in coinbination with the notches s s, theyform a means of securing the boards C in place When formed into a rack, in the most simple, easy, and effective manner, while they enable4 the boards to be released with equal facility when required. l

Hinging the grain-troughs as described dispenses With the labor of sweeping them out7 Which is a matter of considerable inconvenience, especially when besieged, as is usually the case, by a flock of hungry sheep.

I do not claim, broadly, hinging or pivoting the side boa-rds, C C, which has, before my invention7 been practiced; but

witnesses.

JOHN D. WOODBURY.

Witnesses I JAY HYATT,

QUINcY VAN VooRHrs. 

